Conductor clamp

ABSTRACT

A clamp body has aligned supports at opposite sides for supporting the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of a line insulator. A groove in the body extends perpendicular to the aligned supports and has a transverse notch in one side receiving a keeper. A depending projection on the keeper moves in a transverse recess in the body beneath the notch and has a threaded opening therethrough receiving a threaded member with the ends of the threaded member extending through non-threaded openings at opposite sides of the body. Axial movement of the threaded member is limited and a tool engaging member is carried by each end thereof outwardly of the body.

United States Patent [1 1 Hall [451 Sept. 17, 1974 CONDUCTOR CLAMP I I [76] Inventor: Gaddis G. Hall, PO. Box 6846, "Mary ExAskm Birmingham 35210 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm.lenmngs, Carter &

Thompson [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 426,711 [57] ABSTRACT A clamp body has aligned supports at opposite sides for supporting the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of a line insulator. A groove in the body extends [58] h R 1 24/115 R perpendicular to the aligned supports and has a trans- 5g"k" 135 248/63 64 65 4 verse notch in one side receiving a keeper. A depend- R ing projection on the keeper moves in a transverse recess in the body beneath the notch and has a threaded opening therethrough receiving a threaded member [56] References Cited with the ends of the threaded member extending UNITED STATES PATENTS through non-threaded openings at opposite sides of 2,810,538 10/1957 Anderson 24/135 R X the body. Axial movementof the threaded member is 3,026,368 3/1962 i y/ 169 limited and a tool engaging member is carried by each 3 7 5 1 end thereof outwardly of the body. 314371743 4/1969 Lindsey 174/169 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures s 25 t ,37 6/ 3 7 I 4|' I I3 I l4 H l 36' -34 l I- A, I I 7\ l5 lv l a'aasnaz PAIENIEnszmmu sumanrz CONDUCTOR CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a conductor clamp and more particularly to a clamp having aligned support means at opposite sides thereof for supporting the body of the clamp on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in installing and replacing conductor support clamps while the power line is energized due to the fact that the head or tool engaging portion of the cap screw which adjusts the position of the clamping jaw is often inaccessible where it is desired to place the cable imposed thrust load on the side of the clamp opposite the movable jaw or keeper. That is, with prior art clamps, the head or tool engaging portion of the cap screw is usually positioned at the side of the clamp opposite the side thereof carrying the movable jaw or keeper whereby it is necessary to place the cable imposed thrust load on the keeper in order to place the head of the cap screw in an accessible position. This is especially true where the clamp is installed or replaced under hot line conditions at night or during rain storms. Such a clamp is shown in the Lindsey U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,743, dated Apr. 8, 1969.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with my invention, I provide a conductor clamp which is reversible whereby there is never any cable imposed thrust load on the keeper and at the same time a tool engaging member is always accessible adjacent the outer side of the clamp body whereby the position of the keeper may be readily adjusted under hot line conditions with a minimum of effort. I provide a transverse notch in one side of the conductor groove which receives a keeper having a depending portion that moves in a subjacent transverse recess in the body. A threaded opening is provided through the depending projection for receiving a threaded member with the ends of the threaded member extending through nonthreaded openings in opposite sides of the body. Tool engaging members are carried by each end of the threaded member outwardly of the clamp body. A tool engaging member is always in position to receive a rotary drive tool and at the same time the cable imposed thrust load is always on the side of the clamp opposite the keeper rather than being on the keeper. The threaded member carrying the keeper can thus be turned with a minimum of effort. Accordingly, a specific torque may be placed on the threaded member and the torque on the threaded member is not varied in response to increases or decreases in the cable imposed thrust load on the clamp due to the fact that the cable imposed thrust load is never on the keeper. Furthermore, by securing the tool engaging members to opposite ends of the elongated threaded member carrying the keeper, there is no accidental loss of the tool engaging members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A conductor clamp embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of my improved conductor clamps mounted on the outer ends of horizontally disposed insulators supported at opposite sides of a supporting pole;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view showing one of the conductor clamps and a fragment of the insulator connected thereto;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the conductor clamp shown in FIG. 2 drawn to a slightly larger scale; and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, drawn to a slightly larger scale.

Referrring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, my improved conductor clamp comprises a body 10 having aligned support means at opposite sides thereof for supporting the body on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator 11. The aligned support means is shown as comprising a pair of bosses l2 and 13 projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the clamp body 10. The boss 12 is provided with a well 14 which receives a complementarily shaped pintle 14a which projects axially from the end cap 16 of the insulatorll. As shown in FIG. 2, the end cap 16 forms a part of a conventional type C-bracket 17 having an upturned end portion 18 at the outer end thereof. The boss 13 has a well 15 which receives the end 13a of a cap screw 19 which engages a suitable threaded opening in the upturned end 18 of the bracket 17. The inner end of the insulator 11 is secured to a supporting structure such as a pole 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp body 10 is provided with an upwardly opening conductor receiving groove 22 which extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insulator 11. The groove 22 is defined by a bottom wall 23 which is joined to a first upwardly extending side wall 24 at one side thereof and a second upwardly extending side wall 26 at the other side thereof. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a transverse notch 27 is provided in the side wall 24 adjacent the longitudinal center of the groove 22 for slidably receiving a conductor clamping keeper 28 which is adapted for movement toward and away from the side wall 26 for clamping a conductor 29 firmly within the groove 22 between the keeper and the side wall 26.

A depending projection 31 is carried by the keeper 28 and extends to an elevation below the elevation of the bottom wall 23. A transverse recess 32 is provided in the body 10 adjacent the longitudinal center of the groove 22 and extends subjacent the notch 27 and transversely of an adjacent portion of the bottom wall 23 for receiving the depending projection 31 on the keeper 28 whereby the keeper is movable toward and away from the sidewall 26. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the depending projection 31 is of a length less than the length of the upper portion of the keeper 28 to provide shoulders 33 which ride in the notch 27 in the side wall 24 and along the upper surface of the bottom wall 23 as the keeper 28 moves toward and away from the side wall 26.

A threaded opening 34 is provided through the depending projection 31 on the keeper 28 at an elevation below the bottom wall 23 and extends in a direction transversely of the groove 22. Threadedly engaging the opening 34 in the depending projection 31 is an elongated threaded member 36. The outer ends of the elongated threaded member 36 pass through non-threaded openings 37 provided through opposite sides of the body 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Secured to each end of the elongated threaded member 36 is a tool engaging member 38 which is adapted to engage a rotary drive member whereby the elongated threaded member 36 may be rotated to impart axial movement to the keeper 28 along the elongated member 36. That is, a portion of each tool engaging member 38 is of a configuration to receive a rotary drive tool. The tool engaging members 38 engage flat surfaces adjacent opposite sides of the clamp body 10, as shown, whereby the tool engaging members limit axial movement of the threaded member 36 relative to the body 10. Preferably, the tool engaging members 38 are in the form of nuts which are secured rigidly to the ends of the threaded member 36 whereby upon rotation of either of the tool engaging members 38, the threaded member 36 is rotated to thus move the keeper 28 axially along the threaded member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of each tool engaging member 38 is located inwardly of a vertical plane passing through the outer surface of the bosses l2 and 13 whereby the members 38 are free to rotate relative to the adjacent structures.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the side wall 26 and the upper portion of the keeper 28 each extends above and inwardly of an adjacent side of the conductor 29 clamped between the keeper 28 and the side wall 26 whereby the conductor is confined within the groove 22 upon moving the keeper 28 to clamped position. As shown in FIG. 3, the end portions of the side wall 26 beyond the keeper 28 are curved outwardly in a direction away from the keeper to provide a conductor contact surface which increases as the line angle at which the conductor is supported increases. Accordingly, the greater the line angle, indicated at 30, the greater the area of support. Also, as

I shown in FIG. 4, the portions of the bottom wall 23 at opposite sides of the keeper 28 curve downwardly and outwardly toward the ends of the groove 22 to provide a conductor contact surface which increases as the sag angle of the conductor increases, the sag angle being indicated at S.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved conductor clamp will be readily understood. In FIG. 1 of the drawings, I show the clamp at the left side of the pole 21 as supporting a conductor 29 with the line angle being toward the pole 21 whereby the keeper 28 is positioned outwardly of the conductor 29 relative to the insulator 11 whereby the conductor imposed thrust load is placed on the side wall 26 rather than on the keeper 28. The clamp body at the right side of the pole 21 shown in FIG. 1, supports a conductor 29 with the line angle being away from the pole 21 and the adjacent insulator 11. Accordingly, with this connector clamp 10, the keeper 28 is positioned at the side .of the clamp body adjacent the insulator 11 whereby the cable imposed thrust load is positioned on the upstanding wall 26. It will thus be seen that the upstanding walls 26 of the two clamp bodies 10 shown in FIG. I carry all of the conductor imposed thrust load whereby the keepers 28 carry none of the conductor imposed thrust load. It will be noted that in FIG. 1 the clamp body 10 at the left side of the pole 21 presents the upstanding wall 24 as being the outermost wall whereby the tool engaging member 38 adjacent thereto is the one that is accessible for receiving a rotary drive tool. On the other hand, the conductor clamp 10 at the right side of the pole 21 presents the upstanding wall 26 as being the outermost wall whereby the tool engaging member 38 nearest the wall 26 is the accessible one for receiving the rotary drive tool. It will thus be seen that my improved clamp body 10 is reversible in the aligned support means at opposite sides thereof whereby it is adapted to accommodate a conductor extending at selected line angles toward and away from the insulator with the conductor imposed thrust load always being on the upstanding side wall 26 so that there is no conductor immposed thrust load on the keeper 28. At the same time, one of the tool engaging members 38 is always accessible at the side of the body 10 away from the insulator.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that l have devised an improved conductor clamp. By providing a reversible clamp having a tool engaging member at both sides thereof, no conductor imposed thrust load is placed on the keeper whereby the threaded member carrying the keeper may be turned with a minimum of effort and at the same time a controlled, specific amount of torque may be placed on the threaded member carrying the keeper which is not affected by increases and decreases in the tension of the conductor due to the fact that the conductor imposed thrust load is placed on the upstanding side wall away from the keeper. My improved conductor clamp is adapted to accommodate conductors making a line angle or turn angle up to 45. That is, there would be a 22 /2 deflection of the condugt or "56565 each end '6? the upstanding side wall 26 with the contact, supporting surface increasing as the line angle or turn angle increases. In like manner, the conductor contact surface on the bottom wall 23 is progressively increased as the side angle, indicated at S in FIG. 4, increases. Furthermore, by providing tool engaging members adjacent opposite sides of the clamp body, axial movement of the threaded member is limited and at the same time at least one of the tool engaging members is always accessible for moving the keeper 28 toward and away from clamping position. Furthermore, by positioning the outer surfaces of the tool engaging members inwardly of vertical planes passing through the bosses l2 and 13, I assure that the tool engaging members are free to rotate at all times.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A conductor clamp comprising:

a. a body having aligned support means at opposite sides thereof for supporting the body on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator;

b. an upwardly opening conductor receiving groove in said body extending generally perpendicular to said aligned support means and having a bottom wall joined to a first upwardly extending side wall at one side thereof and a second upwardly extending side wall at the other side thereof,

0. there being a transverse notch in said first side wall adjacent the longitudinal center of said groove,

d. a conductor clamping keeper mounted for movement in said notch toward and away from said second side wall for clamping a conductor firmly within said groove between said keeper and said second side wall,

e. a depending projection on said keeper extending to an elevation below the elevation of said bottom wall,

f. there being a transverse recess in said body adjacent the longitudinal center of said groove extend-' ing subjacent said notch and transversely of an adjacent portion of said bottom wall receiving said depending projection on said keeper so that said keeper is movable toward and away from said second side wall,

g. there being a threaded opening through said depending projection on said keeper at an elevation below said bottom wall and extending in a direction transversely of said groove,

h. an elongated threaded member extending through said threaded opening and outwardly of opposite sides of said body,

i. there being non-threaded openings through said opposite sides of said body receiving the ends of said threaded member with a rotating, non-threaded fit,

j. means limiting axial movement of said threaded member relative to said body, and

k. a tool engaging member carried by each end of said threaded member adjacent a side of said body so that upon rotation of either tool engaging member said keeper moves axially along said threaded member.

2. A conductor clamp is defined in claim 1 in which each said tool engaging member is of a configuration to receive a rotary driving tool whereby upon rotation of said tool said threaded member is rotated 3. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 2 in which each said tool engaging member is a nut-like member secured to said threaded member adjacent an end thereof.

4. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 2 in which the outer surface of each said tool engaging member is located inwardly of a vertical plane passing through the outer surface of said aligned support means at opposite sides of said body for supporting said body.

5. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the upper portion of said second side wall and the upper portion of said keeper each extends upwardly and inwardly for partially surrounding and clamping a conductor between said second side wall and said keeper.

6. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which said body is reversible in said aligned support means at opposite sides thereof so that said body can be positioned on an insulator to accommodate a conductor extending at a selected line angle either toward or away from said insulator, with any conductor imposed thrust load always being on said second side wall so that no conductor thrust load will be imposed on said keeper and so that one said tool engaging member always will be accessible at whichever side of said body is positioned away from said insulator.

7. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the portions of said bottom wall of said cable receiving groove beyond opposite sides of said keeper curve downwardly and outwardly toward the ends of said groove providing an increasing conductor contact surface which will accommodate increases in the sag angle of a conductor when supported in the clamp.

8. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the end portions of said second side wall beyond said keeper curve outwardly in a direction away from said keeper providing an increasing conductor contact surface which will accommodate increases in the line angle of a conductor when supported in the clamp. 

1. A conductor clamp comprising: a. a body having aligned support means at opposite sides thereof for supporting the body on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator; b. an upwardly opening conductor receiving groove in said body extending generally perpendicular to said aligned support means and having a bottom wall joined to a first upwardly extending side wall at one side thereof and a second upwardly extending side wall at the other side thereof, c. there being a transverse notch in said first side wall adjacent the longitudinal center of said groove, d. a conductor clamping keeper mounted for movement in said notch toward and away from said second side wall for clamping a conductor firmly within said groove between said keeper and said second side wall, e. a depending projection on said keeper extending to an elevation below the elevation of said bottom wall, f. there being a transverse recess in said body adjacent the longitudinal center of said groove extending subjacent said notch and transversely of an adjacent portion of said bottom wall receiving said depending projection on said keeper so that said keeper is movable toward and away from said second side wall, g. there being a threaded opening through said depending projection on said keeper at an elevation below said bottom wall and extending in a direction transversely of said groove, h. an elongated threaded member extending through said threaded opening and outwardly of opposite sides of said body, i. there being non-threaded openings through said opposite sides of said body receiving the ends of said threaded member with a rotating, non-threaded fit, j. means limiting axial movement of said threaded member relative to said body, and k. a tool engaging member carried by each end of said threaded member adjacent a side of said body so that upon rotation of either tool engaging member said keeper moves axially along said threaded member.
 2. A conductor clamp is defined in claim 1 in which each said tool engaging member is of a configuration to receive a rotary driving tool wHereby upon rotation of said tool said threaded member is rotated.
 3. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 2 in which each said tool engaging member is a nut-like member secured to said threaded member adjacent an end thereof.
 4. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 2 in which the outer surface of each said tool engaging member is located inwardly of a vertical plane passing through the outer surface of said aligned support means at opposite sides of said body for supporting said body.
 5. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the upper portion of said second side wall and the upper portion of said keeper each extends upwardly and inwardly for partially surrounding and clamping a conductor between said second side wall and said keeper.
 6. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which said body is reversible in said aligned support means at opposite sides thereof so that said body can be positioned on an insulator to accommodate a conductor extending at a selected line angle either toward or away from said insulator, with any conductor imposed thrust load always being on said second side wall so that no conductor thrust load will be imposed on said keeper and so that one said tool engaging member always will be accessible at whichever side of said body is positioned away from said insulator.
 7. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the portions of said bottom wall of said cable receiving groove beyond opposite sides of said keeper curve downwardly and outwardly toward the ends of said groove providing an increasing conductor contact surface which will accommodate increases in the sag angle of a conductor when supported in the clamp.
 8. A conductor clamp as defined in claim 1 in which the end portions of said second side wall beyond said keeper curve outwardly in a direction away from said keeper providing an increasing conductor contact surface which will accommodate increases in the line angle of a conductor when supported in the clamp. 